"Please Assist Us In Helping The Children Of Chernobyl."

 The Children's Program is one of the main initiatives of Quinte's Children of Chernobyl (QCOC).  QCOC brings children over from the Chausy and Drogitchin areas within the contaminated zone, for respite visits in Belleville and the surrounding area. These visits take place for eight weeks, June through August. The children and their interpreters are billeted with local families, who raise the funds to bring the children either through private and/or group fundraising.  The cost for a child under 12 is $1,750.00 and a child 12 and over  is $1,950.00.  Once in Canada, the host families cover all additional costs.

 Belarusian volunteers responsible for the selection of children that Quinte's Children of Chernobyl and other organizations host for rehabilitation visits. The waiting list of children eligible for a summer trip to Canada is over 900 names long. All of these children come from average Belarusian and Ukrainian families with priority going to those with the poorest health or living conditions.

When children come to Canada through the QCOC's Children's Program, they receive medical attention from local doctors and dentists who give their time and expertise at no cost to the Belarusian children or their host families. Quite often children are brought over to Canada having been diagnosed with life threatening problems by doctors in Belarus. Yet when the children arrive here it is learned that they only have a minor medical problem which can be easily treated with common antibiotics. QCOC have in the past sent over the counter pharmaceutical products such as vitamins, tylenol, cough medicines, medicated ointments and other medicines such as these to be distributed to families in the surrounding areas.

By providing these children with an extended period of time away from their contaminated environment, they return to Belarus and Ukraine, stronger, healthier, and with the realization that their lives can improve. They see that people both in and outside of their local area are working to help them recover from the economic and medical effects of the Chernobyl explosion.

The Directors of Quinte's Children of Chernobyl have seen first hand results of health improvement in children brought to Canada who have been affected by the Chernobyl disaster. With our continued efforts we will be able to help assist as many unfortunate youngsters from the contaminated areas as possible.